Monthly Archives: February 2018

I usually try to make this blog about funny dating stories (and believe me I have some funny ones coming up including a grocery store drive by) but today I want to talk about something serious. I want to talk about my hometown, Kinston, NC. My ex texted me yesterday and said, “hey your hometown is on espn.com.” I was happy to hear that because Kinston has been trying really hard lately to improve itself. I read the article and afterward, I was downright pissed. This asshat writer, Baxter Holmes, paints Kinston as some Juarez like drug town that the only thing it has going for it is BASKETBALL! Now I love basketball. I’ve loved Duke since I was in elementary school. My whole family loves basketball. Some of my most precious memories are of my cousin, Scott yelling at his beloved Carolina team getting killed by my Duke team. Scott always thought he was a better coach than Dean Smith. The thing of it is Kinston has a lot more going for it than just basketball. If this asshat reporter would have done his job properly then he would have known this and could have written a way better article. Here are some of the good things that Kinston has going for it.

1 People. Kinston has some of the most genuine, heartwarming people I’ve ever met. They are the kind of people who would help a stranger or give you a hug if you needed it. They smile at you when you walk down the street and look you directly in the eye. I wish we had this kind of people in LA.

2 Food. I’ve been in LA for 14 years and still cannot find good bbq. I’d give my right arm right now for a bbq and coleslaw sandwich from Ken’s BBQ. Kinston has the best food ever. Ken’s BBQ (ok technically in La Grange), Waffle House, Bo Jangles (best french fries ever), King’s BBQ (that has survived two floods), and The Chef and The Farmer are just some of the awesome places in Kinston. Let’s talk about Chef and The Farmer. People from all over the South come here to eat. It has amazing reviews on Yelp and Trip Advisor. Did you even know that Baxter? Did you even talk the time to find out?

3 Strength and Fortitude. Kinston has survived a lot. It’s survived two massive floods. I remember looking at pictures a couple of years ago of all the buildings under water and thinking, “man how is Kinston going to survive this?” People couldn’t get to the store to get groceries. Businesses were under water. It was a really bad time for Kinston. KINSTON SURVIVED!! Look at Kinston today. New businesses are popping up. Tourists are coming to eat at The Chef and The Farmer. We have two pretty cool hotels (The O’Neil and The Mother Earth Lodge) that when I checked at Christmas (for curiosity sake) were booked solid for months. The town has strength and character far beyond what was in that article.

Mr. Holmes, maybe you should come to visit Kinston some time. Hang out, eat some of our amazing bbq, really get to know our town and it’s people. Then write your article.